Alright first attempt at appraising an article i have found about varicella zoster, so comments on how useful the information was would be good and comments on my appraisals because it was difficult to critique this article.
I thought that this letter to the editor was interesting because the publisher Mackenzie raised an issue about the use of the vaccination for varicella. Outlines the issue of using the vaccine where it could be prevented using another treatment. Preventing the acquisition of varicella in children is beneficial, but the publisher wants to know if this would increase the incidence of acquiring varicella is greater for those who have not had the vaccination yet, and the publisher also comments about the reduction of adulthood varicella and herpes zoster by booster doses which raises questions about how effective the vaccination is. Very good issues in this letter, which relates to why workers would need to be vaccinated for the varicella zoster virus when they would have had it as a child, or if a vaccination is necessary for a ‘mild’ illness and if the vaccination is still effective because of the vaccines universal program which would have created resistance strands of the varicella, reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine. In response to Mackenzie, Peter Mcintyre and Kristine Macartney have provided recent data which proves that the varicella vaccine is still effective in individuals over 60 years of age. The information provided by Peter Mcintyre and Kristine Macartney also had statistics to deaths from varicella and why it is important to let patients know that even though this is a mild illness, death can still occur. The letter also states that the vaccine is safe because of clinical trials that have been dated 30 years ago, within that time 40 million doses have been given out, this is questionable because there was no additional information or links to back up its safety. This article covers why workers in general would need a vaccination, especially those working in health care, ‘more than 1500’ hospitalisations, thus pharmacists working in a hospital will be surrounded by those with the varicella virus. This article was interesting in regards to the issues raised about the vaccine, but in my opinion, there was no other information about the virus itself, or any other useful information on the varicella virus. 1 Jane has made comments on the discussion board above.
Pictures of varicella zoster 2
picture 1
picture 2
baby with super infection of varicella zoster
These pictures would be very useful in the final wiki. They give a good indication of the physical maifestation fo the disease. Please ensure that each picture has a title and number so that a reader isnt left guessing what the subject of the picture is. -Jane.
Yes very graphical pictures that show symptoms of chickenpox. We should use these for the final wiki. Like Jane said we would need to title and number them. Thuy
Any new patient with suspected genital herpes should have diagnostic testing with virus identification.
Type-specific serological tests that distinguish between antibodies for type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV) may be useful to determine previous exposure but cannot be used to diagnose recurrences of genital herpes.
Initial episodes of genital herpes usually require antiviral therapy, while recurrences may be treated with continuous antiviral suppression (if frequent) or episodic therapy; patient counselling and education (including how to recognise lesions) are essential.
Topical or systemic therapy is available for initial and recurrent non-genital herpes simplex.
Primary varicella infection (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles) are usually diagnosed clinically, but can be confirmed by detection of varicella–zoster virus antigens or nucleic acid from swabs of lesions or by antibody tests.
Antiviral therapy should be considered in chickenpox if disease is complicated or the patient is immunocompromised.
In herpes zoster, antiviral therapy should be given within 72 hours of onset to patients aged over 50 years or with severe pain or neurological abnormalities to reduce the likelihood and duration of postherpetic neuralgia.
The availability of effective antiviral therapy makes early diagnosis vital" (Dominic E Dwyer and Anthony L Cunningham, 2002) 3
This article would be useful because the page documents the difference between the varicella zoster virus and the herpes simplex virus. This piece of information is valid for the final wiki document because there is useful information about the Varicella zoster virus. Information such as pathogenesis and epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention is covered for both the varicella virus and the herpes simplex virus. Information from this page can form a base line understanding of what the varicella zoster virus is and how it differs from the herpes simplex virus and the herpes zoster. This site covers one of the points mentioned on the introduction page ‘what is the difference between varicella zoster and herpres zoster’. There are two paragraphs under the heading ‘varicella zoster’; sub heading ‘clinical features’ which explains the features of the varicella zoster (chickenpox) and the herpes zoster. I think this website is useful in understanding the viruses for differential purposes and treatment available. The abstract above is was useful as is, but the rest of the information on the page is good. This link could be used as a start for the Wiki. Video Appraisal 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCNUPTl75ac&feature=fvst
This interview covers what tuberculosis is and the speaker talks about tuberculosis about children being born with a tuberculosis infected mother CAN be born with TB. This is important for woman in the healthcare sector of work to be vaccinated to prevent TB infections before pregnancy. Doing this will reduce TB infections in infants and improve quality of life. The speaker in this video also talks about and criticises BCG vaccination. Stating that BCG reduces the risk of TB however according to him it is not 100% protection. He then states that BCG could give a false reading from a TB test because BCG mimics the infection. The speaker also talks about the difference between TB infection and TB disease and then talks about treatment and length of treatment suitable for the different TB. Healthcare workers may be shifted from country to country to work depending on their area of work,
Good video to understanding more about TB and is suitable to a healthcare professional, the speaker speaks clearly and the speech is not rushed so that the listener would not be able to understand. This should be used on the final WIKI, because what the speaker has to say about TB is useful. 4
I've realised I also used this as one of my appraisal. It is useful information because it gives overall discussion about the topic, and is appropriate for health care workers. The only negative thing about this video is that statistics are related to America. Thuy
The big file below is from the Helms text book for therapeutics, i found this useful because sources on the net did not provide information on primary or post primary TB infections, the book had information that was easy to understand and also concise. This would be useful in describing what TB is for the final wiki. The article maybe be hard to read because it has been photocopied and then scanned on, but should be somewhat clear enough to read. 5
Hey Thai, I also used the information from Chapter 76 of Helms to outline the basic characteristics and pathophysiology of tuberculosis. I found this resource very useful in that it helped me simplify a lot of the terminology when explaining the disease progression to our target audience.
- Gregory
Good reference, as Helms provides detailed information on the topic that can be used to discuse TB. Also I like how you scanned the pages to allow us to read the information you used. Thuy
Appraisal 4continued:
continuation of the pages, this page has information about postprimary/secondary TB infections and also has information about extrapulmonary TB. 5
Thai Nguyen's Space
Alright first attempt at appraising an article i have found about varicella zoster, so comments on how useful the information was would be good and comments on my appraisals because it was difficult to critique this article.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_05_050905/letters_050905_fm-4.html
I thought that this letter to the editor was interesting because the publisher Mackenzie raised an issue about the use of the vaccination for varicella. Outlines the issue of using the vaccine where it could be prevented using another treatment. Preventing the acquisition of varicella in children is beneficial, but the publisher wants to know if this would increase the incidence of acquiring varicella is greater for those who have not had the vaccination yet, and the publisher also comments about the reduction of adulthood varicella and herpes zoster by booster doses which raises questions about how effective the vaccination is. Very good issues in this letter, which relates to why workers would need to be vaccinated for the varicella zoster virus when they would have had it as a child, or if a vaccination is necessary for a ‘mild’ illness and if the vaccination is still effective because of the vaccines universal program which would have created resistance strands of the varicella, reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine. In response to Mackenzie, Peter Mcintyre and Kristine Macartney have provided recent data which proves that the varicella vaccine is still effective in individuals over 60 years of age. The information provided by Peter Mcintyre and Kristine Macartney also had statistics to deaths from varicella and why it is important to let patients know that even though this is a mild illness, death can still occur. The letter also states that the vaccine is safe because of clinical trials that have been dated 30 years ago, within that time 40 million doses have been given out, this is questionable because there was no additional information or links to back up its safety.
This article covers why workers in general would need a vaccination, especially those working in health care, ‘more than 1500’ hospitalisations, thus pharmacists working in a hospital will be surrounded by those with the varicella virus. This article was interesting in regards to the issues raised about the vaccine, but in my opinion, there was no other information about the virus itself, or any other useful information on the varicella virus. 1
Jane has made comments on the discussion board above.
Pictures of varicella zoster 2
These pictures would be very useful in the final wiki. They give a good indication of the physical maifestation fo the disease.
Please ensure that each picture has a title and number so that a reader isnt left guessing what the subject of the picture is.
-Jane.
Yes very graphical pictures that show symptoms of chickenpox. We should use these for the final wiki. Like Jane said we would need to title and number them.
Thuy
Second appraisal:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_05_020902/dwy10631_fm.html
"Abstract
- Any new patient with suspected genital herpes should have diagnostic testing with virus identification.
- Type-specific serological tests that distinguish between antibodies for type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV) may be useful to determine previous exposure but cannot be used to diagnose recurrences of genital herpes.
- Initial episodes of genital herpes usually require antiviral therapy, while recurrences may be treated with continuous antiviral suppression (if frequent) or episodic therapy; patient counselling and education (including how to recognise lesions) are essential.
- Topical or systemic therapy is available for initial and recurrent non-genital herpes simplex.
- Primary varicella infection (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles) are usually diagnosed clinically, but can be confirmed by detection of varicella–zoster virus antigens or nucleic acid from swabs of lesions or by antibody tests.
- Antiviral therapy should be considered in chickenpox if disease is complicated or the patient is immunocompromised.
- In herpes zoster, antiviral therapy should be given within 72 hours of onset to patients aged over 50 years or with severe pain or neurological abnormalities to reduce the likelihood and duration of postherpetic neuralgia.
The availability of effective antiviral therapy makes early diagnosis vital" (Dominic E Dwyer and Anthony L Cunningham, 2002) 3Grp 4 Student 5 Resources
This article would be useful because the page documents the difference between the varicella zoster virus and the herpes simplex virus. This piece of information is valid for the final wiki document because there is useful information about the Varicella zoster virus. Information such as pathogenesis and epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention is covered for both the varicella virus and the herpes simplex virus. Information from this page can form a base line understanding of what the varicella zoster virus is and how it differs from the herpes simplex virus and the herpes zoster. This site covers one of the points mentioned on the introduction page ‘what is the difference between varicella zoster and herpres zoster’. There are two paragraphs under the heading ‘varicella zoster’; sub heading ‘clinical features’ which explains the features of the varicella zoster (chickenpox) and the herpes zoster.
I think this website is useful in understanding the viruses for differential purposes and treatment available. The abstract above is was useful as is, but the rest of the information on the page is good. This link could be used as a start for the Wiki.
Video Appraisal 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCNUPTl75ac&feature=fvst
This interview covers what tuberculosis is and the speaker talks about tuberculosis about children being born with a tuberculosis infected mother CAN be born with TB. This is important for woman in the healthcare sector of work to be vaccinated to prevent TB infections before pregnancy. Doing this will reduce TB infections in infants and improve quality of life. The speaker in this video also talks about and criticises BCG vaccination. Stating that BCG reduces the risk of TB however according to him it is not 100% protection. He then states that BCG could give a false reading from a TB test because BCG mimics the infection. The speaker also talks about the difference between TB infection and TB disease and then talks about treatment and length of treatment suitable for the different TB. Healthcare workers may be shifted from country to country to work depending on their area of work,
Good video to understanding more about TB and is suitable to a healthcare professional, the speaker speaks clearly and the speech is not rushed so that the listener would not be able to understand. This should be used on the final WIKI, because what the speaker has to say about TB is useful. 4
I've realised I also used this as one of my appraisal. It is useful information because it gives overall discussion about the topic, and is appropriate for health care workers. The only negative thing about this video is that statistics are related to America.
Thuy
http://www.travelhealth.co.uk/diseases/bcg.htm
Link above explains about what BCG is.
Appraisal 4:
The big file below is from the Helms text book for therapeutics, i found this useful because sources on the net did not provide information on primary or post primary TB infections, the book had information that was easy to understand and also concise. This would be useful in describing what TB is for the final wiki. The article maybe be hard to read because it has been photocopied and then scanned on, but should be somewhat clear enough to read. 5
Hey Thai, I also used the information from Chapter 76 of Helms to outline the basic characteristics and pathophysiology of tuberculosis. I found this resource very useful in that it helped me simplify a lot of the terminology when explaining the disease progression to our target audience.
- Gregory
Good reference, as Helms provides detailed information on the topic that can be used to discuse TB. Also I like how you scanned the pages to allow us to read the information you used.
Thuy
Appraisal 4 continued:
continuation of the pages, this page has information about postprimary/secondary TB infections and also has information about extrapulmonary TB. 5
References:
1. Grant A Mackenzie, Kristine Macartney , 2005, ' Universal varicella vaccination', The medical journal of Australia, pg 277 - 279, viewed: 10/08/10, http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_05_050905/letters_050905_fm-4.html
2. Chickenpox (Varicella) Photos Immunization Action Coalition; March 27, 2009 [15/8/2010]; Available from: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/varicel/photos.asp
3. Dominic E Dwyer and Anthony L Cunningham, 2002, ' Herpes simplex and varicella–zoster virus infections', The medical journal of Australia, pg 267-273, viewed: 10/08/10, http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_05_020902/dwy10631_fm.html
4. Youtube, 2007, ' Tuberculosis', viewed 12/08/10, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCNUPTl75ac&feature=fvst
5. Helms, RA; Quan, DJ; Herfindal, ET; Gourley, DR. Textbook of Therapeutics. Eighth Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006, pg 1943, chapter 76.